Introduction

Good morning, everyone. This week, I will share with you a particularly good message, which is "Love for God's House." What a person loves determines that person's destiny. Take a look at what you love, everyone, and think about what you love right now. You might say, "Teacher, I love money," but loving money has its own consequences. Do you know that? I am fortunate to know God, or else I don't know where I would be now.

Do you know where God dwells? God dwells in the temple established as the dwelling place for His name, in His temple. God hears people's prayers in His temple. Who can solve the problems of a person's life? God can.

I will never forget one thing, which is the first day I walked into the church with a desperate heart, feeling like I couldn't go on living. Actually, I didn't feel that living had any meaning, and suffering every day was meaningless. Walking into the church, I was touched by God for the first time, and tears flowed down like a child who had been wandering for many years returning to their parents' side.

My heart felt God's presence, and I was comforted. From then on, my life was on a roll. I said, "God, you are actually here!" From that day on, I felt like I had found a treasure. Many people don't know this; they think God is a burden. Isn't that terrible? I found my God, I finally met my God, and I finally understood why I am alive.

If I hadn't met God, I really wouldn't be in this world today, living in such despair. You know how you can't put down a treasure once you find it, and you tell everyone about Jesus Christ wherever you go. I have God! I have God! I won the lottery! God is my God, and I am a child of God.

At that time, I began to say, "Oh, I see, this is God's temple, this place is so awe-inspiring." At that time, I established a concept that God dwells in His temple, God dwells in the dwelling place established for His name, which is the church. Our brothers and sisters should know that I am really grateful to have God, or else how could we get through these days, right?

I am really grateful that I have the opportunity to build God's church. Not only build the church, but also establish the Chinese Mingding Doctrine. This is such a glorious grace, such a glorious Mingding Doctrine. Many of our brothers and sisters have the same aspirations as me, which is great.

Last night, I called my colleagues over and said, "Come over here for a moment." They said, "Teacher, I can't, I'm serving." My goodness, they were praying desperately for several hours. I said, "Then don't come," because I wanted to collect some stories from them on Saturday. I like to tell stories, share some stories, and get some materials.

Oh my, several teams were fighting. I was really touched at the time. One was dealing with intestinal obstruction and ovarian cancer, which may have spread to the abdomen. Another was serving a sister's mother, an elderly woman of ninety who was often disturbed by demons. The demons often got on her mother's bed and harassed her. Another person had been blind for more than thirty years, not born blind, but blinded later.

These are the ones I know about, but there are many more that I don't know about. I often see our pastors serving late into the night. Oh my, I woke up in the morning and saw that our service was still going on. Oh my, they were still serving at three o'clock, four o'clock, five o'clock, and finished serving at seven o'clock.

I was particularly moved, and I said, "What a grace this is!" If there were no church, no temple of God, not only would there be no me, but there would also be so many desperate brothers and sisters, right? This is a church that brings hope, this is a temple of God that brings hope.

And that's why, you know, my heart loves God's temple. Some people build God's temple with gold, silver, and precious stones, while others build God's temple with wood, hay, and straw. If you build God's temple with wood, hay, and straw, a fire will burn it all to ashes. Recently, there was a news story about a big fire that burned down eight buildings at once, which is quite something.

So you know, from the earliest days of building the church, I never intended to build with wood, hay, and straw. I want to use my whole life, my very being, to build. I want to give my best to God, to build with gold, silver, and precious stones. So who is gold, who is silver, and who is precious stones? It is us, these brothers and sisters.

So our church only accepts treasures. How can garbage build a church? Don't think that just because you have money, you are a treasure. It's not like that. It's because you have that heart inside. My heart loves God's temple. I didn't know how to build a church very well in the early days, so there were many people helping out in the church. Later, I sent them all away, because I don't need help, I only need God's presence.

If you build a church and get a bunch of helpers, wouldn't that be a problem? Do you know that those helpers also give offerings? They give offerings every month, but it's useless. Because I know deeply in my heart that God's temple is not built that way. God's temple is a group of brothers and sisters who are precious in God's eyes. If you are not precious, if you don't have the same vision, the same Mingding Doctrine, you can come and receive grace, but you cannot come and build the church with me.

Oh, you have requirements? You see, other churches don't have any requirements. Yes, we have requirements. Teacher, I want to give an offering. I said, "Wait, let me teach you some truth first. When you understand, then come and give an offering." Because the church doesn't want money, the church wants brothers and sisters who are precious in God's eyes. Look at my logic, it doesn't matter if there are few people, but it's fatal if there is no God.

Who do we learn from when building the temple? First, we learn from Moses, and second, we learn from David. Later, as I searched through the Bible, I discovered that building the church is according to God's revelation. What was Moses doing on the mountain with God for forty days and nights? God was drawing pictures for Moses, building it this way, building it that way, this tabernacle like this. So when Moses wrote the Book of Exodus, he described how to build the temple. You have to build according to God's revelation for God to dwell in it.

Later, I was also deeply moved. Building the church is not according to my own ideas. Do you think it's like decorating our house? If we decorate our house, can God dwell there? What I like, God may not like. God says my needs are this and that. As for David, you have to read carefully. You definitely haven't read as clearly as I have. David was personally drawn by God's finger, explaining to him how to build it.

All the temples were revealed by God. So later, when we build the church, build the temple for God's name, the dwelling place for God's name, you have to follow God's revelation. I have to tell you that the Apostle Paul's letters are all letters for building the church. When we were studying the Bible, we realized that it was like this, it was like that, and we implemented it little by little. I don't think we have implemented it particularly well; there is still a big gap.

You know that David had that heart when he was building the temple. God said, "No, you can't." Why can't I? "I will let your son build the temple for me." As for you, I will draw pictures for you with my finger, and you listen carefully and look carefully. I was wondering why David couldn't build it? Actually, David should have been able to build it. But why didn't God let him build it? God wanted David to have a part in building the temple, and then his son Solomon also had a part. This is a great grace.

Can you take all the good things for yourself? You have to leave half for your son. So this is what David received, doing it according to God's revelation. Do you know how God revealed to David how to build the temple? The walls were made of gold. David was stunned. Where would I get so much gold? Do you know that the vessels, all the vessels, were made of gold?

For example, when a couple is deeply in love, it's best not to get married first, because after marriage, they become enemies. I tell you, when a couple is deeply in love, the man will give the woman whatever she wants, right? That's love, right?

When building the temple, do you love God? God said to use gold for this and silver for that. I tell you, the stone that was drawn was three meters long, more than one meter wide, and more than one meter thick. David looked at it and said, "Oh my gosh, how can I do this? I'll leave this to my son. God, please have mercy on my son. This is not easy."

Is it easy to build God's glorious church today? It's not easy. Do you want to do it according to God's instructions? You have to do it according to God's instructions. You have to have that faith, right? You have to have that willingness to give, that willingness to give out.

Actually, I tell you, the temple is not important. The temple is to examine people's hearts. If people's hearts are not on God, what's the point of building that temple? If people's hearts are on God, even if the stones are big, it won't be difficult for those who trust in God. It's a test of faith, God is examining people's hearts.

So brothers and sisters, God knows what kind of heart you have! If you don't pay the price to build God's glorious church, how can you love God, right? Why do I say that my heart loves the temple of my God? Because I am willing to live for it, this is my life. God, since you have chosen me to build your church, I will do it according to your word.

Is it difficult? It's difficult! I ask you, is it difficult to believe that everyone will be healed? It's difficult! Right? But that is truly God's revelation. So more than ten years ago, I said that everyone would be healed, and people laughed at me. They really laughed at you. Do you want to be laughed at? Everyone will be healed? Really? Oh my gosh, that's not true, right? But I believe that everyone will be healed.

Because of this, the brothers and sisters who come among us will not find any excuses. Because of this and because of that, everyone will be healed, everyone will be healed. You are definitely not the one who will not be healed. If I said that one out of a hundred would not be healed, do you know what would happen? "Oh, I am that one." But if everyone will be healed, then you have no excuse.

So was it difficult for David to build God's temple? It was difficult! Is it difficult for us to build the church? It's difficult! I tell you, there was an old pastor, very faithful, he was an exorcist. One day I went to visit him, he should be eighty years old this year. After visiting him, I told him about the logic of the Chinese Mingding Doctrine. After doing church for so many years, I was telling him what I had already done and what I was doing.

He told me, in English: "In Singapore, like what you do, it is impossible." It is impossible to do what you do in Singapore! People just come to church for entertainment.

I tell you, I have an aspiration in my heart. If we were to build that kind of church, then forget it. I thank God that God has raised up so many brothers and sisters who love God among us. I saw them still praying and serving this morning. They were serving all night yesterday until this morning. Tears almost fell, it's so great! What virtue and ability do I have? What am I? To have such grace! I thank God.

If you have a heart that loves God, if you really love God's temple in your heart, and are willing to pay the price for God to build God's glorious church, God himself will do such things! Do you think I did it? It is God himself who is doing it, inspiring our brothers and sisters to be raised up! Prepare yourselves, rise up, and specifically find the difficult things to do.

How many years have you been coming to the Chinese Mingding Doctrine church? I've been coming for two years. How come your eyes are still blind after two years? Find the difficult things to do. I tell you, our brothers and sisters are so amazing. One night I was on duty, and a sister was in so much pain that she called out. I was sleeping too soundly. Another one of my colleagues answered and served until dawn, not just until dawn, but until the sun came up.

I was so grateful in my heart. It turns out that God is really among us, God really wants to raise up groups of such brothers and sisters among us. What a grace this is. What David received was to use gold, silver, and precious stones. Is gold, silver, and precious stones difficult? It's difficult. Where is the answer? The answer is in God. Nothing is impossible with God. No matter how difficult it is, we can build it, as long as I believe. This is the basic logic of the Chinese Mingding Doctrine.

What happened later? Did Solomon build it? Go to Jerusalem and look at those big stones, they are terrifying! How were those stones carved out of the mountain? It's not just one piece, it's so heavy, how do you move it? Even with current technology, it's difficult, let alone David and Solomon three thousand years ago, right?

David was so amazing. He had a heart to build the temple for God, and then God didn't give him the opportunity, but let his son build it. Okay, my son will build it, then I will prepare the materials. I can't not prepare the materials, right? I have to prepare the materials for my son. In God's temple, God's glory has a part of me, right? A big part of me! This is David.

As a result, do you know what happened? Because of this heart that loves God, a miracle happened. David inexplicably accumulated 270 tons of gold. He himself accumulated 270 tons of gold. 270 tons of gold three thousand years ago, even if it were 270 tons of gold now, you can calculate it, it's a sky-high price. Where did it come from? Tell me, where did it come from? God gave it.

Some people are curious, it's amazing, God gave so much gold. You say, "Teacher, how did the gold come?" It just came. For example, the Ammonites were desperately accumulating gold, and David defeated the Ammonites. After defeating them, he collected the gold, right? Like the Sino-Japanese War, we were defeated by the Japanese devils, and after being defeated, we had to give the money from our national treasury to them, right? That's how it was done.

David collected three thousand talents, which is 270 tons of gold. So David said, "I give to God what comes from God." We defeated the enemy, so can it not come from God? David's life experience, from escaping, escaping Saul's pursuit, to always leading those hundreds of hooligans. You know, David led hundreds of hooligans, and if God didn't help him manage them, could he have controlled them? He couldn't have controlled them.

So David was truly remarkable, a renowned poet and singer. He penned numerous poems and sang many songs. Now, just a little bit. How to manage those ruffians and scoundrels? God granted him wisdom. And how did he escape from Saul's grasp? God bestowed grace upon him. Understood? I tell you, David was an extraordinary man.

Therefore, why did he yearn for God's temple? It was the dwelling place established for His name, where all his problems could be resolved. David felt that God was his treasure. Do you possess this sentiment? I tell you, if you do not consider God your treasure, I foresee great losses for you, great losses indeed. God is my treasure; nothing can make me exchange Him. My God is the most precious treasure of my life; I would not trade Him for anything. Understood? I simply must know that my God is my treasure, just like David.

From the day I recognized God, my heart has loved Him. He is my everything, He is my treasure. I impart this concept to you, hoping that you can know that God is our treasure. I tell you, David was the most devoted; he was truly remarkable. Therefore, I hope that this sermon can make everyone realize that God is your treasure. What is the point of loving the world? What is the point of loving money? How low is it to love money?

Isn't money just printed by printing presses? The Americans print it in green, and we Chinese print it in red, right? They keep printing it frantically, printing one trillion this year, three trillion next year, and ten trillion the year after. As they print more and more, it becomes worthless. Why would you love such a thing? I tell you, loving money will lead to trouble.

Scripture

**Then David the king said to all the assembly: “My son Solomon, whom alone God has chosen, is young and inexperienced; and the work is great, because the temple is not for man but for the Lord God. Now for the house of my God I have prepared with all my might: gold for things to be made of gold, silver for things of silver, bronze for things of bronze, iron for things of iron, wood for things of wood, onyx stones, settings for jewels, stones of various colors, and all kinds of precious stones and marble in abundance.

Moreover, because I have set my affection on the house of my God, I have given to the house of my God, over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house, 3,000 talents of gold, of the gold of Ophir, and 7,000 talents of refined silver, to overlay the walls of the houses; gold for things of gold and silver for things of silver, and for all kinds of work to be done by the craftsmen. Who then is willing to consecrate himself today to the Lord?”

Then the leaders of fathers’ houses made their freewill offerings, as did also the leaders of the tribes, the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, and the officers over the king’s work. They gave for the service of the house of God 5,000 talents and 10,000 darics of gold, 10,000 talents of silver, 18,000 talents of bronze, and 100,000 talents of iron. And whoever had precious stones gave them to the treasury of the house of the Lord, into the hand of Jehiel the Gershonite. Then the people rejoiced because they had given willingly, for with a whole heart they had offered freely to the Lord. David the king also rejoiced greatly. (1 Chronicles 29:1-9)**

Prayer

God, may we, these brothers and sisters, be like the people during the time of King David's temple construction, willing to dedicate ourselves to You. God, may You accept our offerings, allowing us to dedicate ourselves to You. For You are our treasure, You are our everything, You are our life, You are our Mingding Doctrine. God, we simply want to live for You, to build Your glorious temple, to build Your glorious church, which is our Mingding Doctrine.

God, we are willing to live for You and willing to die for You. May You accept us, inspire our brothers and sisters to stir up the hearts within us, to rekindle our fervor, to resolve to build the temple, to complete the temple. May Your glory fill Your church, and may the prayers offered here be heard by You. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Scripture Background

What happened before David resolved to build the temple? 2 Samuel chapter 7 is about David's intention to build the temple, and chapter 6 is about the Ark of the Covenant. The Ark of the Covenant had been neglected since the time of Saul and was placed in the house of Uzzah. Uzzah looked at the Ark of the Covenant every day. Can everyone understand how it feels when someone's belongings are placed in our house, taking up space? It's annoying. Whose stuff is this? The Ark of the Covenant had been in Uzzah's house for many years.

When David captured the city of Jerusalem, the place was called Mount Moriah, where Abraham offered Isaac. So David captured the city of Jerusalem and drove out the enemies. Then, in this city, he prepared to transport the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem and set up God's tent.

That tent was probably the tent built during the time of Moses. In fact, these materials were incomplete. It was the tabernacle built by Moses, and some of the materials might have been taken home by people to build walls or small sheds. Only a dry Ark of the Covenant was left in Uzzah's house, and Uzzah didn't even think it was a big deal.

Think about it, if Uzzah understood that this was God's Ark of the Covenant, would he be blessed? He would be blessed. But the Ark of the Covenant was placed on a cart and pulled forward. The Ark of the Covenant cannot be placed on a cart. People can ride in carts, but the Ark of the Covenant must be carried by people, right? As a result, Uzzah saw that the Ark of the Covenant and the cart were about to fall, so he reached out to steady the Ark of the Covenant.

Then God struck him down, startling David. Oh my, I love God's Ark of the Covenant, how could someone die? After asking around, he understood that the Ark of the Covenant cannot be pulled by a cart, it must be carried by people. Oh, this was done wrong, right? It's like we built a nuclear power plant and made a mistake. If the nuclear power plant leaks, people will die, so this matter is quite dangerous.

Uzzah died, and God said don't cry, what are you crying about, what are you crying about, don't be so useless. As a result, Obed-Edom took the Ark of the Covenant home. After taking it home, we don't know what Obed-Edom did at home, but God blessed Obed-Edom's house. There is no record of what blessings were given, but I tell you what blessings were given: all the sick people in his family were healed, and his family's business became very prosperous.

You say, oh my, teacher, God also loves money. No, God doesn't mean that you have money only if you love money. God is willing to prosper those who love Him. Everyone must not misunderstand. God does not like decline, and God does not like being shriveled and looking like a crooked melon, right? You can't do that. God likes people to prosper.

As a result, many things happened in Obed-Edom's house in these three months, so many things. Then David saw that the Ark of the Covenant could bless Obed-Edom's family. It could not only kill people, but also bless people. It can't be kept in your house all the time, bring it to Jerusalem. So David put it in Jerusalem and built a small tent, oh, that shabby tent.

As a result, David lived in his two-story building. Where is that two-story building? It is the two-story building where he watched Bathsheba bathe. Oh, I live in a small building, and God lives in a tent, how can this work? This is the sermon we preached two weeks ago, how can this work? I live in this, and God lives in a tent, how can this work? My heart loves God's temple.

Why does he love God's temple? Because he relies on it to live. Hasn't he been living by relying on God for so many years? I have to build a temple to become the temple of the great King, first love God's temple. This matter reveals a very important attitude problem. Our attitude inside must be right. Some time ago, some people's attitudes were actually very bad.

One of our sisters told me, she said: Teacher, do you know? The pastor of the original church led everyone to pray for the economy. I said: Why pray for the economy? Isn't that what Old Ma does? She said: Praying for the economy is to allow our brothers and sisters to have more financial income, so that we can donate money to build God's church.

As soon as I heard it, I knew it was wrong. Why? Because that's what Uzzah did. He always wanted to help God. This Uzzah always wanted to help God. Remember from now on that helping God is a deadly thing, it will kill people. If you want to help God, you will die. But this concept is not common. If you are a preacher, listen to my sharing this time, oh my, I am also helping God, change it quickly, before disaster strikes.

Therefore, my heart loves the house of my God, this is what David said. How to love it? David loved the house of God. From the day he planned to build a temple for God, God revealed to him that he could not build the temple, but his son would build the temple. David took it to heart: "I have to prepare the materials." On the one hand, God drew pictures for him, saying build it like this, build it like that, put gold on this piece, put gold on that piece, oh, there are so many requirements. It turns out that it costs 10,000 talents of gold.

It seems that in the end, the fundraising raised about 10,000 talents of gold. One talent is 90 kilograms, which is equivalent to 900 tons, 900 tons of gold, oh my goodness. How much did David donate? He donated nearly one-third, 270 tons. Amazing, love the house of God.

At this time, do you love the economy or the house of God? Is it good to invest these 900 tons of gold in infrastructure construction? I tell you, the most basic construction is the house of God. So wonderful things began to happen in 2 Samuel chapter 7. David intended to build the temple, and from then on, his life was on a roll. Oh my God, there is so much gold, silver, bronze, and iron.

As a result, David accumulated 270 tons of gold at once. If you love the house of God, what will you love out of this love? Love out of gold, love God and you will have a golden house, love God and you will have a beautiful woman. What people value is the word of God, and that person's life is on a roll, so rich.

You know that you can now draw 3D renderings, right? Now draw 3D renderings, click, this is all gold, that is all gold. If you draw the temple, it will be amazing. But David didn't have 3D renderings at that time. In David's mind, he could already imagine what the house would look like, the house of God, and he felt satisfied when he thought about it, as if he had seen it.

Oh God, although I don't have the opportunity to build it, I already have a model in my heart, and I can imagine it in my heart, oh, the house of God is so magnificent. You know that King David and King Solomon built their own palaces with wood, stone, cement, bricks, tiles, and gravel, at most gypsum board, smeared with some white ash, probably this thing, the whole ceiling, right? Can the house of God live in that thing?

The house of God, you use bricks, tiles, gravel, wood, smear some cement and then smear some gypsum, putty, brush some white paint, what is that? I tell you, David and Solomon thought that I want to build the house of God, can it be a specification? That's not a specification. I will build my house like that, but to build the house of God, it is magnificent, you can't feel sorry for the gold, love the house of my God, you are willing to pay the price for what you love.

Brothers and sisters, I tell you, if you love God, if you love God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength, will you live like this today? Right? What have you been doing? Let's ask ourselves what we have been doing in the past. I ask you, does God take time away from our lives? Take time. Does God take resources away from our lives? Take resources. Does God take treasures away from our lives? Take treasures, take money.

Look at 900 tons of gold, which is better to use to develop the economy, develop infrastructure, or develop the house of God? Brothers and sisters, don't get it wrong. If you have time, give it to God, if you have money, give it to God. I can tell you that you will not suffer losses, oh, I thank God, this is the presence of God. There are many problems that money cannot solve, there are many problems that the economy cannot solve, and there are many problems that power cannot solve, right?

Look at what our generation has witnessed with our own eyes, they are all famous. Gaddafi, Saddam, do you know? The ending is very tragic. Ceausescu, right? There are so many, tragedy! What was it once? Once it was a powerful force that could dominate one side, or a hegemon of one side. But without God, it is nothing. In the first twenty minutes, he was still giving a speech on the stage, and twenty minutes later, he was overthrown and shot.

Can the things we imagine in our hearts really solve your problems? I tell you, one cancer cell can destroy all your dreams. But the presence of God, the temple of God, is the key to solving our problems. It's just that many of us don't know. Are you willing to dedicate yourself to God? In fact, these are all given by God. This is the background of this passage.

Who am I, and what is my people

But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able thus to offer willingly? For all things come from you, and of your own have we given you. (1 Chronicles 29:14)

David dedicated three thousand talents of gold, two hundred and seventy tons. Oh my God, does everyone know? He was shaking, like an old man. Can it be like this? I dedicated two hundred and seventy tons of gold! God pressed you down with a backhand, like pressing an ant or a louse. Don't be arrogant or crazy when you live in this world.

After you dedicate two hundred and seventy tons of gold, who am I? I am just a piece of shit! What is my people? They are so willing to dedicate, but in fact, it is nothing, nothing. Brothers and sisters must know that you are nothing. A COVID-19 virus sent many people away, right? They were very arrogant before they were sent away. Cancer cells sent many people away. Go to the oncology hospital and see.

Once I was in Singapore, my mother was in a Chinese hospital, I called my mother, I said: Come, I will lead you to pray. I led my mother to pray. My mother said: "Oh, another one." I said: What another one? My mother said: Another one died, one died not far from the ward, and they were pushing him out. After a while, my mother said another one. I said what another one? Another one died. I said Mom, let's not live here, let's go home.

I urge everyone to avoid celebrating birthdays as much as possible. Your birthday is not important; don't let it become a commemoration of a tragic story. Some people spend lavishly on birthdays, flaunting their wealth. Spending tens of thousands on a birthday dinner, only to be diagnosed with lung cancer the next month and die four months later—gone.

Therefore, you must build up David's logic: I am the King of Israel, but I am nothing. I have taken it a step further than David. What am I? I am mere dog excrement, utterly insignificant. If you criticize me, I won't argue. Isn't that right? So, brothers and sisters, we are merely dust, and our existence in this world is of little consequence.

This is why David's heart longed for God's temple, because God is the eternal God, our everything. We humans truly have no control. Some people scheme and plot, only to end up in prison. Isn't that so? What you say doesn't matter; look, someone else ascended to power without much effort. The affairs of this world are hard to explain.

All Things Come From God

"But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? For everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand. We are foreigners and strangers in your sight, as were all our ancestors. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope. Lord our God, all this abundance that we have provided for building you a temple for your Holy Name comes from your hand, and all of it belongs to you." (1 Chronicles 29:14-16)

Those of us who trust in Jehovah God and Jesus Christ must never be like idol worshippers, offering chickens and ducks. If He is God, does He lack those offerings? He does not. Our God does not dwell in temples made by human hands. Does God lack a temple? Therefore, when Solomon dedicated the temple, he exclaimed, "Oh God, even the heavens and the highest heavens cannot contain you, much less this temple I have built!"

I think the gold and silver plating looks good, but what is it in Your eyes? Does not everything come from You? The vast amount of materials I prepared—three thousand talents, five thousand talents of gold, so much material, so much gold and silver treasure—you may think it significant, but God does not regard it as such, does He?

Because it all comes from God. How could David acquire two hundred and seventy tons of gold? If God did not give him the opportunity, where would he get it? I lament that people do not know what is most valuable; God is most valuable. I tell you, with God, you have everything; without God, nothing you have is of any use. All things come from God.

In a broad sense, all things are created by God. In a narrow sense, how did it end up in David's hands? Because God gave it to him, because he loved God. Sometimes, I don't know how to explain it to you clearly.

After I finish speaking, some brothers and sisters say, "Teacher, why are you so long-winded?" I say, "Oh, why am I so long-winded?" If you listen to everything I say, then I won't be long-winded. Do you all know what a profound grace it is to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and strength? If you don't know, you will suffer.

Don't wait until you can't defecate or urinate, when everything is blocked, including your mind. Whether it's blockage or obstruction, either is enough to make you suffer. Only then do you remember, "Oh, I don't love God." Do you understand? Brothers and sisters, no matter what your condition, know that you reap what you sow, alright?

All things come from the Lord, including cancer, viruses, and wealth. We must know that God brings both disaster and blessing. You must know that loving God is the most abundant reward. Therefore, love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and strength.

Our Days on Earth Are Like a Shadow, Without Hope

Why long for God? Because He is the eternal God. We are like shadows in this world, fleeting and impermanent. Did David think the throne was wonderful? He did not. He felt that eternal life was better than anything else; he wanted to return to God. Our days on earth are like a shadow, vanishing in the blink of an eye.

You spend a lifetime chasing shadows, and then it's over, isn't it? Over. Can you imagine the world continuing to turn after you are gone? Can you imagine the treasures you accumulated being of any use? No use. So, this is the foundation.

"For we are foreigners and strangers in your sight, as were all our ancestors. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope." (1 Chronicles 29:15)

So, once you live too practically, you will find that God is competing with you for time. You want to do this, but you must keep the Lord's Day. You want to do that, but you must study the Bible. You want to do another thing, and time is always competing with you, isn't it? Do you feel that God is competing with people for time? This Sabbath is set apart, and then there's the Feast of Tabernacles, and then the Passover. Why so many festivals? I still need to make money!

God competes with people for time, doesn't He? You always feel like there's not enough time because you have too many things to do, but you don't want to set aside time for God. I must tell you, I made a very wise decision in my life. The first wise decision was to offer money to God, and the second wise decision was to offer time to God.

Did I suffer a loss? No, I didn't. I tell you, it's those fools who snatch time back from God. I think to myself, "These fools," but I don't dare say it openly, or they'll beat me up, and I won't suffer that in silence. Don't become those fools.

You must know that our existence in this world is of little consequence. This matter is important, that matter is important, but nothing lasts. What to do? Snatch the time back and offer it to God. I experienced it once: every Sunday, the server would crash. I thought to myself, "That's too bad. Let it crash. I'll deal with it after the Sunday service."

The devil saw that and thought, "This kid is too tough." But I tell you, Jesus loves us. He came so that the sheep may have life, and have it more abundantly.

"Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting." (Matthew 17:19-21)

So you see, we must have faith, prayer, and fasting. Jesus has already given us this authority. Thank the Lord, may the Lord help everyone. Those I am responsible for are all protected by God because I snatch the time back for God, and my heart longs for my God. Do you know to what extent I long for Him? From the first day I believed in the Lord, I knew I loved God. This is definitely not a matter of investment and return; it's an emotional matter.

After I trusted in God, God gave me a job. You know, rain or shine, I went to church. Nothing could stop me, nothing could stop me. I tell you, I haven't missed a single time in all these years. Do you think I'm really a law-abiding person? No. I don't keep the law; I love my God, and I offer myself to God.

You know, our group leader at the local church was talking nonsense. Of course, our training wasn't good either. Then I went to the group meetings, never missing one. Why? My heart longed for my God. Since God said to do it this way, then I would set this time apart. What to do? I went, and while he was talking nonsense, I carefully read the Bible.

Anyway, you can't say I wasn't there. I was there, I would definitely be there. I long for my God, and no one can snatch me from God's hand. I love my God, and I don't think it's a chore. I serve my brothers and sisters not for any other reason, but because I love my God. It's that simple.

So, why is the church built like this today? Because I love my God. I want to love my God with all my heart, soul, and strength. I didn't say how much I love Him; it's never enough. So, I don't have this problem. Why do I go on the Lord's Day? Do you think the local church speaks well? Forget it! If it were good, I would have stayed there. I love my God, and this time is set apart. Other things can be done at other times.

God, You Examine People's Hearts

Do you know that God examines people's hearts? What is inside a person's heart? Because what was inside David's heart was, "My heart longs for the temple of my God," so I offered three thousand talents of gold. God, I offer back to You what comes from You.

Some people, after giving offerings, feel like they are very important in the church and must have a say. Why? They think their things are theirs, not from God. God examines people's hearts; don't just do things for show. So, when I serve, I am especially afraid of those who have a lot of bad habits giving me face.

I say, "Is your pain better? Is it better?" They clam up and don't say anything. Tell the truth directly; don't be afraid to hurt my feelings. If it's not better, then it's not better. If it's better, then it's better. I'm not afraid; I'm not afraid of you discouraging me. Why are you clamming up? It makes me uncomfortable. You want to make up a lie, don't you? "Actually, it's a little bit better, just a tiny bit." There's no point in making up that lie. Let's keep it simple.

If your heart is very twisted, do you think God won't give you a twisted life? All of us who live very twisted lives, you better straighten out that twist. How good it is to live straight, isn't it? So, God examines people's hearts. Is there a heart that loves God inside? If there's no heart that loves God inside, then it's nonsense.

I Offer Everything With an Upright Heart

What is an upright heart? We say what is. I believe that all things come from God, so they come from God. Then I will give back to God what comes from God. If I think this is mine and I offer it to God, am I not twisted? Isn't that right? You have gold plating in your house, but we don't have it yet, right? You want so much money, but I don't have that much money. So, we must offer everything with an upright heart.

Brothers and sisters, if you don't understand the meaning of giving, don't give. You will definitely be cursed if you give. Don't have a mindset of helping God, because that is a twisted mindset. You see, you help God. God, what else do you want from me? Look, I have already given offerings, I have already come to Bible study, I have already come to listen to the sermon. What else do you want from me?

So, we must offer everything with an upright heart. There are too few people with David's mindset.

"I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. All these things I have given willingly and with honest intent. And now I have seen with joy how willingly your people who are here have given to you. Lord, the God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac and Israel, keep these desires and thoughts in the hearts of your people forever, and keep their hearts loyal to you. And give my son Solomon the wholehearted devotion to keep your commands, statutes and decrees and to do everything to build the palatial structure for which I have provided." (1 Chronicles 29:17-19)

Conclusion

"Now, who is willing to consecrate themselves to the Lord today?" (1 Chronicles 29:5)

Who is willing to offer themselves to God? Is this question asking others? It's asking those who read the Bible. Who is willing to offer themselves to God? Do you know where this comes from? It comes from Abraham offering Isaac. Where is the temple built? It's built on Mount Moriah. Where is Mount Moriah? Mount Moriah is where Abraham offered Isaac.

If God is willing to accept us, it must be because our hearts are willing to offer. If we ourselves belong to God, then three thousand talents, five thousand talents, two hundred tons, three hundred tons, five hundred tons—nothing, because our lives belong to God. Let us live out God's glory in this empty life, this shadow-like life. When that day comes, we can come boldly before God and say, "God, I have come. I want to enjoy the crown of glory You have prepared for me in eternity."

If you live too practically in this world, it's best not to make it too practical. Calculating this and calculating that will all become vanity of vanities, meaningless. Do you understand? Begin to come before God with a sincere and upright heart, and offer yourself.

Do you think God wants your life? What would He do with your life? He can't eat it like pork, right? Beef and pork belly are worth something. What does God want from us? Actually, it's not Abraham offering Isaac; it's God giving us Jesus Christ. This is our God, who hopes we will be like Him, who hopes we can also offer our most precious things.

I think, brothers and sisters, if you have a heart to build the temple and are willing to offer temple-building offerings, that is a great grace. I tell you, giving back to God what comes from God is a great grace.

Our sermon ends here. May God bless everyone.